By. Robert Rifkin, MD
Date: 12/13/2023
Robert Rifkin, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist at SCRI in Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, part of the U.S. Oncology Network, for a discussion about a phase two study on the outpatient administration of Teclistamab, a bispecific antibody targeting BCMA in patients with multiple myeloma.
Dr. Rifkin explains that the study aims to bring new classes of myeloma drugs into the clinic and community more practically. Teclistamab, being the first bispecific antibody released for multiple myeloma, initially mandated hospitalization due to concerns about cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic dysfunction. The study seeks to introduce a preemptive approach using tocilizumab and steroids to mitigate toxicities and reduce the need for hospitalization.
During the interview, Dr. Rifkin elaborates on the study’s rationale, emphasizing that multiple myeloma is a continuous therapy disease, and the patients involved have undergone four prior lines of therapy. The goal is to introduce a highly active drug class while managing toxicities and complications efficiently.
The conversation touches upon the safety and feasibility of the outpatient approach, emphasizing the need for caregiver involvement, patient education on monitoring vital signs, and the creation of a wallet card for emergencies. Dr. Rifkin underscores the importance of the MajesTEC-1 study’s findings, which laid the groundwork for this new study, and anticipates that the results will contribute valuable insights to the safety and feasibility of administering Teclistamab in an outpatient setting.